Lhasa-Kathmandu Mountain Bike Touris 22 days longadventure trip filled withexciting and thrilling experiences. This trip is designed for those who love bicycle riding and want to make an extraordinary trip in a difficult mountain terrain. This trip gives life time experience as it includes Lhasa sightseeing to Everest Base Camp cycling.
You will first fly to Lhasa to begin this journey and involve in city sightseeing for next two days that also helps you for better acclimatization. At the same time, you will be able to explore ancient Lhasa city through your own eyes. This mountain bike trip allows you to know Tibetan culture, the friendliness of the people and their daily life style.
Cycling starts from Lhasa, capital of Tibet and ends in Syabrubeshi of Nepal. This trip is of total 22 days long including visa preparation and other arrangements in Kathmandu. You will ride more than 1,100 km over Spectacular Mountain passes in Tibet during this journey.
You will stay most of the nights in tents and some nights in hotel during this journey. A professional team of guides, cooks, and drivers from both Nepal and Tibet sides will be available for a smooth operation. This tour is available between the months of April to October. We ensure full logistical support during the entire Lhasa-Kathmandu Mountain Biking Tour.
On your arrival at Kathmandu International Airport, you will be greeted with flower garlands/Khadas. Our representative will then take you to your hotel. If time prevails, you will visit office for paperwork. Stay overnight at the hotel in Kathmandu.
Free day in Kathmandu for visa application and trip preparation.
Today, you will visit popular world heritage monuments in Kathmandu including Kathmandu Durbar Square, Boudhanath, Swoyambhunath, and Pashupatinath. Alternatively, you can choose Bhakatapur and Patan sightseeing. By late afternoon you will drive back to your hotel. Stay overnight at a hotel in Kathmandu.
Upon arrival at the airport, you will be met by our Local Tibetan guide. You will receive a Hada (a white scarf which is a symbol of good luck and happiness in Tibetan culture) as a gift. It will then take about 1 hour to drive to our hotel. Later in the afternoon you will have time to explore the local area and acclimatize yourself to this high altitude city. Stay overnight at hotel in Lhasa.
Today is the day we visit the beautiful Potala and Norbulingka Palaces. Sightseeing begins after your breakfast. Built in the 17 century, Potala Palace provides amazing views of the entire city and houses the private quarters of the Dalai Lama, numerous grand state rooms and chapels.
Jokhang Temple is another important sacred site which unravels more deep-seated mysteries of Tibetan Buddhism. We further stroll through Barkhor Bazaar (market). With its open air stalls, shops and crowd of pilgrims, it is the nerve centre of Lhasa. Stay overnight at hotel in Lhasa.
Today, you will visit Drepung Monastery and Sera Monastery in Lhasa. Drepung Monastery was built in the 14th century, and is believed to have sheltered around 10,000 monks in the past but as of now there has been quite a declination resulting in only a few hundred. The history, culture, and religious beliefs of the Tibetan people are strongly concentrated and centered in this marvelous monastery. Sera Monastery is a preserved monastery of white-washed walls and golden roofs.
We leave our hotel in convoy out of Lhasa, stopping outside of the Potala Palace for a group photograph to mark the start of our epic mountain biking journey. Once outside Lhasa you have a chance to take advantage of the flat roads and go at your own pace, stretch your legs and get warmed up for the climbs to come! The route follows the deep green water of the Kyi Chu (Lhasa River), with hills forming a picturesque backdrop as we head towards Chusul. The road pulls away from the river as we pass the recently constructed bridge and tunnel to Lhasa airport and gain our first views of snow-capped mountains ahead. We stop for some lunch and then we continue cycling towards Daga where we cross the south bank of the Yarlung Tsangpo River; the highest major river in the world, with an average elevation of about 4000 meters. We follow the south bank some 10 km to our camp at the base of the Khamba La pass, with a short walk to the river to freshen up before dinner. Stay overnight at camp.
Today marks the first of our major climbs - 23 km to the Khamba La pass at 4807m. Recently laid tarmac aids our climb, but it will still be a tough day’s cycling as our bodies continue to adapt to the high altitudes. The reward for this morning’s challenging climb is the sight of the stunning, turquoise waters of the Yamdrok Tso Lake; this is a sacred lake to Buddhists. You will also be treated to the sight of the snow-capped Nazin Kang Sa (7252m) in the distance. Then, you make a fast descent (500 m) to the lake and onto the Tibetan plateau. We will stop for lunch before completing the last 38 km into the camp along flat but tough terrain. Stay overnight at camp.
Our today’s riding is on the tarmac road heading west and climb to cross the Karo La pass (5032m). The first of the passes above 5000m, this is a challenging but enjoyable ride to the top of the pass, from where you will able to see an imposing glacier. Karo La is where Francis Younghusband fought a battle with Tibetans in 1903 to reach Lhasa. Stay overnight at camp.
Today begins with a gentler climb of 15km to the top of the Simi La followed by an easy ride of 35km, mostly downhill to Gyantse. The town is home to some magnificent military and religious sights dating back to the 15th century.The most famous of its monasteries is the Kumbum, a gold-topped pyramid barely touched by the passage of time and probably one of the most spectacular buildings in Tibet. You will have free time this afternoon to enjoy looking around Gyantse. Stay overnight at camp.
Today, we will visit local monastery in the morning. Later, we begin our ride descending a couple of hundred meters on a comfortable tarmac road to Shigatse, the second largest city in Tibet. Although today involves a longer distance ride, the highway is paved and terrain is flat. Stay overnight at camp.
Today’s riding involves steadily climbing up in the first 8 km at the start of a long day’s cycling. After some 35 km we cross the almost unnoticeable Tra La pass (4050m). The undulating terrain takes us past fields from where children will shout “Hello!” and run to see you if you stop to take a break. The surrounding mountains appear close towards us as we enter into a river valley before reaching our camp which is a short distance before the Tso La pass. Stay overnight at camp.
A steady 8 km climb takes us to the Tso La pass (4580m), followed by a fast downhill descent of 425m over 29 km takes you to the flat stretch into Lhatse. Lhatse is reminiscent of a Wild West frontier town; children here are both friendly and inquisitive and not afraid to interact with strangely dressed cyclists! From Lhatse, we head into the Chusar Chu valley, where we camp at a very picturesque spot along the riverside. Stay overnight at camp.
The day starts with a 24km climb on sealed roads to the highest pass- the Gyatso La (5220m). This ride offers you stunning view of the snow-capped mountains including Everest either side of the pass on a clear day. You can have a cup of Yak tea from the solitary tent alongside the fluttering prayer flags.
Then we drop down 10km to our lunch stop. The gradual descend takes through small villages and passes Stupas down to the Lolo River. You may be well greeted by excited children from a roadside school, before you reach today’s camp at a picturesque site next to the river. Stay overnight at camp.
Today, we go away from Lhasa-Kathmandu Highway and head towards Everest, world’s tallest peak. The early morning sunrise over the snow-covered mountains gives us opportunity to capture mind blowing scenery. The terrain changes abruptly as we leave the main road towards Everest, making the switchback-climb to the top of the Pang La (5200m) pass.
On a clear day, you will able to get a reward of stunning views of the Himalayas including Makalu (8463m), Shishapangma (8012m), Cho Oyu (8210m), Lhotse (8516m), Everest (8848m), and several other breathtaking peaks from the top of pass. A fast descent of never-ending switchbacks takes you through settlements where local people will often be grouped together in fields drinking Yak tea and making bricks. You will drop further into a desert-like valley surrounded by rugged mountains called Tashi Dzong where your campsite is made. Stay overnight at camp.
First, we will take a gradual climb through villages where children will come and greet you and savor any photo opportunity and even a test-ride on your bike! Jagged snow-capped peaks confront us as we start our climb to Rongbuk. You will be gripped by the anticipation of seeing Everest right in front of you as you turn every corner.
After Rongbuk, we embark on the final leg to our closest point to Everest Base Camp. This is a steady 8km ride taking us to the base camp of Everest North Face for a truly spiritual experience which is simply unforgettable. We return to Rongbuk for lunch and then back down to the valley. For the more technically minded riders, there are some excellent sections of stony single track, with Everest as your backdrop! More tracks wait at the bottom of the descent and the option for a couple of stream crossings. Stay overnight at camp.
After leaving Rongbuk, you will head back down the bumpy road then take a "short-cut" into the mountains. You will reach Tingri via Lamna La after 4 hours of riding. Stay overnight at camp.
After breakfast, you will start today’s ride to the Peokutso Lake. This lake is at 4,591 meters elevation on the Tibetan Plateau at south of the Brahmaputra River. The lake is 27 kilometers long and 6 kilometers wide. It is surrounded by snow capped mountains. Streams fed by glaciers are main source of Lake water.
Kerung is also spelled as Kyirung in Tibet. It is situated in the southern part of Kyirong County of the Tibet Autonomous Region of China. The town is located at an altitude of 2,700 meters with a subtropical mountain monsoon climate with reasonable precipitation.
It is an important town for the cross-border trade between China and Nepal. Historically Nepalese fought a war against Tibet at Kerung. After December 2014, the port of entry between China and Nepal was opened. This route between China and Nepal is considered to be more reliable than Zhangmu. Stay overnight at camp.
After having breakfast, you will start cycling to Kerong border and will camp in the beautiful scenic campsite. You can also choose to stay lodge.
After some immigration formalities, you will continue cycling down to Syabrubeshi that takes about 2 hours. You can eat lunch at Sybrubeshi and ride a 4-WD jeep to Kathmandu. Stay overnight at hotel in Kathmandu.
As per your flight schedule, our airport representative will transfer from your hotel to the airport for your final departure.
Please Note that:
1. The clients need to bring their own bicycle and spare parts to Tibet. The rate we have offered doesn't include the shipping fee and packing fee, etc
2. The above rate doesn't include mechanic
3. The clients need to bring their own sleeping bag, we will only provide sleeping tent, cooking tent, toilet tent, and mattress.
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